Fuel line vibration dampener



Sept. 28,` 1937. E. J. LATTNER 2,094,457

I FUEL LINE VIBRATION DAMPENER Filed May 4, 1936 INVET OR. M5/W J Arm/ERE,

ATTORNEY.

Patented' Sept. 28, 1937 y UNITI-:p .STATES 2,094,451 f l u A f FUEL LINE vmaA'rIoN DAMPENER.. Emcrt J.' Lattner, Ced-ar Rapids, Iowa?` -V Application May 4,'1936, Serial No. 77,779

3 claims. (ci. 137-18) l i This invention relates to oil burners and the like and has particular relation to means for preventing thesetting up-of periodic vibrations in the fuel -supply tanks and fuel supply Ilines of such burners. i

It has been noted, in some oil burner installations, thatobjectionable high pitch sound or noise may emanate from the supply tank utilized in storing the supply of oil for the burner.` I have discovered that such noises emanating from the tank are caused by minute high frequency vibrations of the walls of the tank andv that such vibrations are caused by the burner setting up low amplitude relatively high frequency pulsal5 tions in the supply line, the vibration from the burner being directed and carried backl to the supply line and into the tank by the column of oil in these parts. It is probable that these pul'- sations in the fuel columns are caused primarily A by the teeth of the gear pump ordinarily used in oil burners of this character. At any rate, whatever` the cause, it has been determined that pulsations thus set up in the supply line and in the fuel columns 'cause vibration in the lines and storage tanks.

It has been. proposed that metallic bellows be connected inthe supply line'- with the idea that the bellows will expand and contract very slightly to absorb the pulsation. Such bellows have been connected "to offshoot connections from the supply line or evenin the supply line itself but upon consideration it is apparent that such devices in the `first place are not flexible enough to completely absorb the pulsations and that, secondly,

they are likely to spring leaks and permit the escape of fuel through' the bellows. The fire underwriters organizations have recognized the danger of such conditions and prohibit the use of any device in the fuel line which may permit the leakage of oil.

I have, however, devised an entirely responsive means for absorbing pulsations in the supply line, which means are so constructed that even if break-down occurs, there will be no leakage of fuel from the pulsation absorbing device.

It is a general object of my invention to provide means yfor preventing emanation of sound from the supply tanks and supply lines of oil burner systems.

It is a more particular object of my invention to provide means for absorbing pulsations which may be transmitted to the supply line of oil burner installations.

Another object of my invention is to provide a .device of the above character which may be readily incorporated in the'conventional strainer, pump,` and control valve units of `an oil burner structure. V i

` A feature of my invention is that even if the device breaks down -in use, no leakage of fuel will occur. f I d Other and furtherfeatures and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawing and following specifications, wherein is disclosed asingle exemplary' embodi` ment of the invention, with theunderstanding, however, that such changes may be made therein asl fall within the scope of the appended claims,

without departing from the spirit -of the invention.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an oil burner installation in which a pulsation absorb ing means, constructed according to one embodiment of my invention, has been incorporated.

kFigure 2 is a view in section showing a device, constructed according to another embodiment of my invention, that is incorporated in a conventional pump unit of an oil burner, and

Figure 3 is a view inv section of a device constructed according to another embodiment of my invention and which is adapted to be incorporated into the strainer assembly of an oil burner.

Referring. now to the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1 and 3 thereof, there is illustrated at I0, generally, a fuel supply tank having a filling pipe II and vent I2 in accordance with the usual construction.

A fuel supply line I4 is provided and the flow of fuel into this line is controlled` by the shut-off valve I3 at the supply tank I0. In operation the fuel passes from the tank l0 through the valve I3 and supply line I4 and into the strainer I6 at the oil burner I1 passing through the shut-off valve I8. The fuel flows from the strainer I6 into the pump I9-and is there `pumped under pressure to the dual control valve 20 and into the nozzle (not shown) of the oil burner I1.

It is apparent that when the burner is in operation a column of fuel extends from the supply in the tank II) through the supply line I4 into the strainer and through the pump I9 and it is believed that minute pulsations of this fuel column are set up by the teeth of the pump as they mesh together in rotation. Whatever the cause ofthe pulsations, however, I have devised a means which operates very satisfactorily to absorb these pulsations in the fuel supply column and in which the escape of fuel from the supply line will not occur even it the vibration damping device becomes inoperative or leaks.

A vibration damping device, constructed according to one embodiment of my invention, may be placed in the strainer I6 as illustrated in Figure 3. Fuel passes into the strainer I8 through the inlet port 2| and into the central portion 22 of the strainer chamber, then passes downward into the lower portion of this chamber and through the screen 23, and into the space 24 outside this screen. The fuel passes out through the outlet port 26 and from there into the pump I9. The upper portion 21 of the strainer I1 is merely a cap and the U-shaped member 28 is a yoke means provided with a bolt 29 for clamping the cap in place on the main body of the strainer.

A device constructed according to one embodiment of my invention includes the disk 3l which fits on the upper edge 32 of the main body of the strainer I6 and which is held in this position by the cap 21. The disk 3l is provided with a cent-rally disposed depending clamping support member 33 preferably in the shape 'of a ring as indicated. The pulsation absorbing member is a cylindrical sac 34 closed at its lower end. This sac is preferably made of rubber which has been treated to resist the effect of the fuel oil. or the sac may be made of any other suitable material such as leather, gold beaters skin or the like.

The sac is held in place by any suitable means such as the clamping ring 33.

When starting up the oil burner the strainer I6 is empty at first and after the burner is started fuel begins to flow through the inlet and into the chamber 22 around the sac and then out through the outlet 26. The sac may collapse to a certain extent but it is apparent that the entrapped air Within the sac will hold it in an extended position. Any pulsations set up in the fuel column,

either by the pump or any other device or part of the oil burner, is absorbed by the damping means 34, by reason of the sac collapsing slightly with compressive pulsations and distending with rel lease of pressure.

Obviously my device may be employed at any other point in' the fuel line by merely providing a container and placing the sac in the container pump 44 and is discharged from the pump into the space 46 beneath the valve 41 and from there passes either to the nozzle supply line 48 or into the by-pass conduit 49. 'I'he vibration damping means I comprises a. sac placed in inverted position from that shown in Figure 3, the sac 5I being engaged on the ring-like upwardly projecting portion 54 of the bottom member 56 of the strainer. The sac 5I is engaged on the ring 54 by means of a clamping ring 51 or in any other suitable manner. The sac II is filled with air preferably at atmospheric pressure and when fuel fills the chamber 4I, the pulsations in the fuel supply line are absorbed by the sac.

It is apparent that the pulsation absorbing means here illustrated is effective to absorb vibrations in the fuel supply line and thus, the pu1sa' tions which tend to set up vibrations in the tank I0 `are absorbed, thereby removing the cause of vibrations in the tank.

It is apparent that modifications of my invention may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fuel supply system for an oil burner, a fuel oil strainer, a cap member on the strainer, the strainer having a fuel oil chamber therein, a plate member secured between the cap member and fuel chamber, and a. gas filled resilient sac member secured to the plate and depending therefrom in the extended position in the fuel oil chamber.

2. In a fuel supply system for an oil burner, a fuel strainer assembly comprising a strainer chamber and a cap and plate member on the strainer chamber, a gas filled resilient sac-like member secured to the cap and plate member and depending therefrom in extended position within the strainer, the said sac-like member being adapted to absorb pulsations set up in the fuel supply system.

3. In a fuel supply system for an oil burner, a fuel strainer having a main strainer chamber and including' a cap and plate member on the main chamber and secured thereto, a resilient gas-filled sac secured to the cap and plate member and extending into the main strainer chamber, the sac being adapted to absorb pulsations set up in the fuel supply system by reason ofthe sac collapsing slightly under compressive pulsa.- tion and distending slightly under an expansive pulsation.

EMERT J. LATI'NER. 

